That’s understandable since his dad Pete Sr., was the Spartans Hall of Fame head coach for 15 seasons and guided the school’s only unbeaten team.

When he went to Notre Dame High a few years later, Pete Jr. helped quarterback the Irish to wins over Steinert.

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Now Pete Jr. is Hightstown’s head coach and tonight hopes to lead his 2-2 Rams to a win over 2-2 Steinert in a game that kicks off at 7 p.m. at Dave McIntire Memorial Field and has huge Central Jersey playoff implications for both squads.

It’s one of five West Jersey Football League games involving Colonial Valley Conference schools.

Trenton (1-3), hoping to rebound from a double-overtime loss at Steinert last week, plays at 4-0 Allentown in a 6 p.m. kickoff that highlights Hall of Fame Night for the Redbirds. The Tornadoes are hoping for a second straight win over the Redbirds, but they’ll need to be at their best to avoid not getting trounced as they did the last time they played at Allentown and lost to an undefeated Jay Graber-coached team, 74-44.

In other action that kicks off at 7 p.m., Notre Dame (3-0) hosts West Windsor-Plainsboro North (0-4) in a game to be broadcast on WRRC ‘The Bronc’ (107.7 FM) following The Trentonian Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m.

Ewing (1-3) goes after its first WJFL Liberty Division win when it visits Bordentown (2-1), while Robbinsville (1-3) visits Delran (4-0) which is tied for the WJFL Liberty lead at 2-0.

Hightstown will be out to spoil Steinert’s bid for a return to the Central Jersey playoffs. Last week, Brescia had the Rams on the verge of their first win over Notre Dame since 1978, only to give up a late touchdown and fall to the Irish, 19-16.

“That was a brutal loss,” said Brescia. “We knew certain things would happen in the game because they always happen there (at ND). But the kids were resilient and we’ve carried that theme all week, pointing out to them that every kid on the team has had to deal with some adversity before. We have had great practices this week.

“That loss had made them come out with a lot more hunger. This game is the whole season, now,” says Brescia. “We are both 2-2 and this is a huge game for power points. If we win we can pick up a lot of power points.”

Through four games, Steinert if fifth in C.J. III with 39 power points and Hightstown eighth at 33.

Each is led by one of the CVC’s top passing offenses and dominating defenses. Dustin Kollman (46-95, 627 yards, 4 TDs) lead the Rams air game and John Zim (39-80, 449, 2 TDs) is the Spartan QB.

Erik Headley (45-281, 2 TDs) tops H’town’s run game and Jeff Mattonelli (3-150, 2 TDs) is the top run threat for Steinert.

But it’s defense where this game could be decided. CVC sack leader and Old Dominion recruit Jude Brenya leads the Rams’ rush with 10 sacks and his defensive end sidekick Terrance Powell has five. Enock Asante has five for the Spartans

With both QBs expected to put the ball in the air a lot this one puts a lot of pressure not only on the pass rushers, but on the defensive backs as well. Eddie Ashley has picked off three passes for Steinert and Max Kutler two for the Rams.

With so much on the line for both teams, this one could do down as one of Mercer County’s best games of the 2012 season.